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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Who even buys The Sun in 2023?

219 replies

Brrrrrrrrrrrr · 13/07/2023 07:57

In light of the current situation and given The Suns track record of generally being a terrible newspaper with diabolical unscrupulous form to manipulate stories, I am curious to know who actually buys it and reads it?

It’s a genuine question because what is bothering me is the disturbing thought that there are people who read The Sun and actually believe what it publishes or even thinks it’s ok to publish it in the first place. Anyone who buys it is essentially saying they are ok with the methodology and lengths The Suns journalists go to in order to get a front page story and I’m wondering what it is they get from absorbing that kind of bad energy every day?

That the Nation and the press were so distracted by this story whilst other far more newsworthy issues were being ignored or lightly reported on is in itself mind boggling and frightening, they literally created a storm out of very little and scores of people were drawn in like it was a cliff hanger from Line of Duty.

Surely it’s time all the major retailers reconsidered selling it, what good does it actually bring to society? I agree there’s the freedom of speech aspect and this is my opinion but the tactics they employ to manipulate and cause divide amongst people are truly despicable and outdated, is it just ok and accepted to be this low?

OP posts:
Curtains70 · 13/07/2023 09:07

I remember years ago seeing a Dad send his son into a newsagents to get some newspapers to wrap things in as they were moving. He said just get the cheapest one, but don't buy the bloody Sun!

Wise words, not even worth being used to wrap your glassware in.

Thankfully most newsagents in my city dont even sell it now.

Pkhsvd · 13/07/2023 09:09

@CalistoNoSolo rich men using their position of power to take advantage and act however they like is a non issue?

Rummikub · 13/07/2023 09:13

Not in this city it isn’t. It’s not sold in most newsagents and I get a real jolt when I see it on sale in other cities, train stations etc.

One of many reasons to live in Liverpool.

Im the same - get a shock when I see it outside of Liverpool.

CalistoNoSolo · 13/07/2023 09:13

Pkhsvd · 13/07/2023 09:09

@CalistoNoSolo rich men using their position of power to take advantage and act however they like is a non issue?

If you were talking about Rupert murdoch I might take you seriously.

MrsHogan · 13/07/2023 09:15

I'm a scouser so I barely see that rag anywhere but I think generally the Daily Fail is worse when it comes to its reporting.

I don't know anyone who actually buys a newspaper, either. It's all online

Callmesleepy · 13/07/2023 09:16

I don't think there's actually anything all that wrong with reading it occasionally although I'd definitely rather not buy it. Don't forget every news source has an agenda and the best way to work it out is to compare them.

ZaZathecat · 13/07/2023 09:25

As a side point, the Sun are in no position to point the finger at sleazeballs like Edwards (though he deserves it) when they spent decades plastering images of topless girls from the age of only 16 (Sam Fox) on page three. Seems worse than anything Edwards or Schofield did.

Olleochalex · 13/07/2023 09:31

Do you not consider the The Guardian, which is more insidious, is just as bad?

Why is the Guardian more insidious? What has the Guardian done to destroy someone's life?

Davros · 13/07/2023 09:45

I bought it recently after the "cheating Aussies" day at Lord's. It reports these things hilariously

soakinboakin · 13/07/2023 09:50

I don't read the sun, but fucking hell how many snobs are on this thread ! How rude to insult people basically calling them thick if they do read it

Superpinkflowerpower · 13/07/2023 09:56

Haha To be fair I see more shit posted on MN AIBU than in either the Sun and Dailymail. The holier than thou crowd on MN makes me laugh.

I read the Dailymail on line amongst many others because A I read a very wide variety of sourced to attempt to get a balanced view and B it can a very light hearted amusing read and the comments are gold (if you take them at face value).

Endlesssummer2022 · 13/07/2023 10:05

soakinboakin · 13/07/2023 09:50

I don't read the sun, but fucking hell how many snobs are on this thread ! How rude to insult people basically calling them thick if they do read it

I think it’s completely fine to call someone thick if they ‘read’ it. Sick of tiptoeing around people doing stupid things like reading the Sun and voting for Brexit and being accused of sneering.

Maybe if there were more sneering, more people would be too embarrassed to do stupid shit. You play stupid games, you win stupid prizes.

DisgustedOfTidmouth · 13/07/2023 10:18

If you think other stories were being ignored then you weren't paying attention.

And like the Sun or not it's part of a free press, and only the ignorant or naive would wish away a free press.

LemonTT · 13/07/2023 10:22

Pkhsvd · 13/07/2023 09:09

@CalistoNoSolo rich men using their position of power to take advantage and act however they like is a non issue?

It’s a very serious issue and needs to have serious evidence based debate annd investigation. Instead we have a tabloid and social media feeding frenzy of the worst kind. The shitshow that was Operation Midland only served to show how badly wrong things can go. Amongst other things that gave ammunition to the “false allegations” brigade. Once again we are faced with the same scenario.

The individual at the centre of this is a young adult who has been used in the most atrocious way. He clearly did not want his privacy invaded nor did he want his personal autonomy taken away.

Leaving aside his personal circumstances which we know nothing about. It is wrong to drag victims into the limelight when they have said they don’t want that. It is wrong to take away their agency and declare them victims whether they like it or not. This doesn’t help them at all.

beguilingeyes · 13/07/2023 10:27

CalistoNoSolo · 13/07/2023 09:13

If you were talking about Rupert murdoch I might take you seriously.

Bravo.
Where is the front page news about Johnson not handing over his mobile phone, despite a court order? Instead we get salacious tittle tattle and lies (they said that a crime had been committed).
Did anyone else notice that Johnson's latest sprog was born on July 5th, but they delayed the announcement until they needed a distraction?

ginghamstarfish · 13/07/2023 10:31

We have a free press, something sadly not available in every country. That's a good thing on the whole. There are newspapers/ broadcasters I don't like, so I just stay away from them.

Rummikub · 13/07/2023 10:32

I don’t see it as a free press. More that deals are done behind the scenes. News is released to suit rather than in public interest.

eddiemairswife · 13/07/2023 10:52

A lot of 'intellectually superior' contributors to this thread.

TangledRoots · 13/07/2023 11:06

soakinboakin · 13/07/2023 09:50

I don't read the sun, but fucking hell how many snobs are on this thread ! How rude to insult people basically calling them thick if they do read it

I’m with you on this.

KStockHERO · 13/07/2023 11:10

My parents-in-law get The Sun and the Daily Mail delivered to their house every day.

If they're away, their first priority on getting up in the morning is to go and get them.
They read both cover-to-cover.

KStockHERO · 13/07/2023 11:12

TangledRoots · 13/07/2023 11:06

I’m with you on this.

Agree completely.

IrreversableBrainDamage · 13/07/2023 11:15

Me! I am a die hard reader of the Sun and think more people should invest in what is a fabulous example of genius journalism!

Artycrafts · 13/07/2023 11:15

Those people with a mind of their own..whether you agree with it or not. This also applies to the Daily Mail readers. Interesting, that MN is normally quick to jump on controlling behaviour ...

TangledRoots · 13/07/2023 11:18

IrreversableBrainDamage · 13/07/2023 11:15

Me! I am a die hard reader of the Sun and think more people should invest in what is a fabulous example of genius journalism!

I’ve heard that it’s really hard for freelance writers to get articles published in the sun because the writing has to be really stripped of all the fat and filler and to be highly impactful.

Thepeopleversuswork · 13/07/2023 11:23

MrsHogan · 13/07/2023 09:15

I'm a scouser so I barely see that rag anywhere but I think generally the Daily Fail is worse when it comes to its reporting.

I don't know anyone who actually buys a newspaper, either. It's all online

This is what I don’t understand. It goes without saying that the Sun is trash and I get the gutter psychology of it but surely the target market (young, relatively poor and relatively poorly educated men) doesn’t buy newspapers any more?

Why would that sort of person bother buying a paper when they can get the same content on their phone?